South school briefs: Glacier Hills has new principal

The next principal of Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Sciences in Eagan will be Scott Thomas, the district’s current integration director. He will start July 1.

Thomas will replace Jeff Holten, who is retiring after 36 years with the district.

Thomas began working in the district in 2001 as a social studies teacher at Apple Valley High School.In 2005, he was hired to be the district’s first integration and equity coordinator. In that role, Thomas brought the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program to secondary schools and the Young Scholars program to elementary schools. He also helped develop the district’s three magnet schools.

In 2012, Thomas left to be executive director of Magnet Schools of America, a national nonprofit.

He earned his bachelor’s degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato, his master’s degree in education at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and received his administrative license from Hamline University.

Prior Lake-Savage

Students place in Philosophy Slam

Two students in the Prior Lake-Savage district placed in the 2014 National Kids Philosophy Slam, which this year challenged students from around the country to answer the question: “Truth or Beauty: Which has a greater impact on society?”

The winners were ­Justina Wojahn from SAGE Acad­emy, who came in second place for the Most Philosophical 5th Grader in America, and Sophia Nimsger from Twin Oaks Middle School, who came in third for the Most Philosophical 6th Grader.More than 4,000 entries were submitted nationally.

According to its website, the competition’s aim is “to give kids a voice and to inspire kids to think by unlocking their intellectual and creative potential through a unique and powerful philosophical forum.”It is sponsored in part by the Lanesboro Arts Center in Lanesboro, Minn.